Republican presidential candidate Herman Cain chooses every day not to be gay; and more in this edition of Bent News.

(Based on @bentalaska tweets and Facebook shares from October 4–9, with supplementation.  Sorry, we fell a little behind)

Herman Cain: Being gay is a “choice”

• @gaycivilrights: Herman Cain: Being gay is a choice – “show me the science it’s not.” Also wants to restore DADT. http://t.co/OhM8eCQv #
• @TPEquality: Log Cabin Republicans respond to Cain: ‘We would be happy to show him [the science].” http://t.co/kzgiR9fM #
• TPEquality: Stephen Colbert praises Herman Cain for choosing every morning not to be gay. http://t.co/PUpdjsqA #

On October 4, Republican presidential hopeful Herman Cain appeared on “The View,” stating his intent if he become president to reinstate Don’t Ask Don’t Tell and also opining that homosexuality is a “choice.”  Cain is also against marriage equality and supports keeping DOMA.

Zack Progress of Think Progress writes,

If Cain has not seen “the science,” he clearly has never bothered to look. Based on decades of research, all major medical professional organizations agree that sexual orientation is not a choice and cannot be changed, from gay to straight or otherwise. The American Psychological Association, the world’s largest association of psychological professionals, describes sexual orientation as “a complex interaction of environmental, cognitive and biological factors.” There is considerable evidence to suggest that biology, “including genetic or inborn hormonal factors,” plays a significant role in a person’s sexuality.

Perhaps someone could make sure Mr. Cain sees this post so he can properly reevaluate his inaccurate “opinion.”

The following day, Stephen Colbert  took up the story, and praised Herman Cain for the decision he made each morning not to be a homosexual.  Watch:

Local elections in Alaska

• Fairbanks election results: Prop 2 fails; Dukes, Sattley & Davies win assembly races: http://t.co/583whlXl #
• Post-election roundup from @alaskadispatch links to local election coverage around AK. 2 big issues yet unsettled http://t.co/mJdoNfGX #

Other tweets

• Boehner triples taxpayer $$ used to defend antigay DOMA: http://t.co/XLa0QiCv #
• RT @tlrd: Tennessee High School Principal Assaults Student Over Gay T-Shirt http://t.co/HsdLyEEx #
• New ABC/WaPo poll: Voters less likely to back prez candidates who oppose marriage equality (Political Correction) http://t.co/VXIonp8T #
• New study released today: Small Businesses Support LGBT Workplace Protections – http://t.co/DzCRzfFW #ENDA #
• Hundreds protest outside Western Cape legislature (S. Africa) about 10 lesbians raped & murdered in province http://t.co/bpmywf9I #
• RT: @JoeMyGod: Palin’s ‘not running’ story topped the news cycle for what, 40 minutes? > more like 40 nanoseconds #
• Apple’s statement on the death of Steve Jobs today: ‘The world is immeasurably better because of Steve’ http://t.co/P00iQHoV -MS #
• @pamspaulding on passing of Fred L. Shuttlesworth & tension re: comparison of black and LGBT civil rights movements. http://ow.ly/6PLjD  #
• Gender health & gender identity: When it comes to trans kids, it’s us who are confused (@TheAdvocateMag op-ed) http://t.co/sMP9MNFZ #
• Southern Poverty Law Center reminds GOP of the hate groups behind Values Voter Summit | ThinkProgress http://t.co/uzT3HjC3 #vv11 #
• Gay History Month series “We are America: How members of the LGBT community helped create the U.S.A.” http://t.co/7ltkKCki #
• We’re in Alaska! Please add us to the map. Thnx / @S4Equality: Help @NLGJA learn about LGBT news & media in your state. http://t.co/51eouwj0 #
• The legacy of Matthew Shepard, attacked 13 years ago today, and his mother’s work to pass Hate Crimes Act http://t.co/qY8YPvUQ (via @PFLAG) #
• Thanks @JuneauEmpire for a good article on Pride Chorus & Oct 11 film festival! #lgbt #Alaska http://t.co/asQMV00P #
• Karl Rove was glittered today! http://t.co/sDPyxoBG #
• Doonesbury character Roz comes out after #DADT repeal http://t.co/vG5CruFm #
• San Diego considers 2 openly gay GOP candidates for mayor (& the straight candidates are also pro-equality.) http://t.co/mepnDWu3 #fb #
• We are everywhere! RT @alecchamilton: Alaska! Who knew? The Geography of Same-Sex Couples http://t.co/xUTCkOZl #
• CA Gov Brown signed two transgender rights bills into law on Sunday! via @TransLawCenter http://t.co/vXY3uUKr #